T20: West Indies Register their First Win of the Tour!

West Indies finally saw some happy moment of the entire series after beating Australia in the shorter version of the game! They beat the touring Australians by 7 wickets with 11 balls remaining. In the rain preventing the full quota of 20 overs, each side got a chance of 11 overs. Marshall and Bravo helped the chase with quick scoring.

Match: T20
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Date: June 20, 2008
Teams: West Indies and Australia
Captains: DJ Bravo and Ponting
Toss: West Indies won the toss and decided to field
Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets with 11 balls remaining
Man of the Match: XM Marshall off West Indies
Score:

Australia 97 for 3 in 11 overs (SE Marsh 29, L Ronchi 36, SR Watson 17 not out, DJ Hussey 0, CL White 10 not out, Extras--5 (lb 2, w 2, nb 1), JE Taylor 2-0-23-0, SJ Benn 2-0-19-0, FH Edwards 2-0-12-0, KAH Roach 3-0-29-2, DJ Bravo 2-0-12-1) lost to West Indies 102 for 3 in 9.1 overs (XM Marshall 36, WKD Perkins 9, D Ramdin 8, DJ Bravo 28 not out, ADS Fletcher 7 not out, Extras--14 (b 6, lb 1, w 7), B Lee 2-0-26-0, MG Johnson 2-0-30-0, SR Watson 2.1-0-17-1, JR Hopes 2-0-14-0, CL White 1-0-8-0)

Click here to read 1st Test Result!

Click here to read 2nd Test Result!

Click here to read 3rd Test Result!

Match 4 of Tri-Series: Pakistan Wins Kitply Trophy! Stuns India!

Pakistan have beaten India in the final of the Kitply tri-series tournament!

Click here to read the 1st match details: Pakistan v. Bangladesh

Click here to read the 2nd match details: India v. Pakistan

Click here to read the 3rd match details: India v. Bangladesh

Match Details:

Trophy: Kitply Cup - Tri-Series in Bangladesh
Match #: 4 (Final)
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Date: June 14, 2008
Teams: India and Pakistan
Captains: Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shoaib Malik
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat
Result: Pakistan won by 25 runs
Man of the Match: Younis Khan of Pakistan
Man of the Series: Salman Butt of Pakistan

Score:

Pakistan 315 for 3 in 50 overs (Salman Butt 129 retired hurt, Kamran Akmal 15, Younis Khan 108, Misbah-ul-Haq 33, Shahid Afridi 10 not out, Shoaib Malik 11 not out, Extras--9 (b 2, lb 4, w 2, nb 1), P Kumar 10-1-37-0, I Sharma 10-0-57-1, IK Pathan 10-0-59-2, PP Chawla 10-0-85-0, V Sehwag 3-0-26-0, YK Pathan 2-0-11-0, Yuvaraj Singh 4-0-23-0, SK Raina 1-0-11-0) beat India 290 all out in 48.2 overs (G Gambhir 40, V Sehwag 2, RG Sharma 24, YK Pathan 25, Yuvaraj Singh 56, SK Raina 24, MS Dhoni 64, IK Pathan 28, P Kumar 5, PP Chawla 2, I Sharma 0 not out, Extras--20 (lb 7, w 11, nb 2), Umar Gul 9-0-57-4, Sohail Tanvir 10-1-60-1, Iftikhar Anjum 10-0-58-2, Shahid Afridi 9.2-0-56-2, Shoaib Malik 4-0-28-0, Fawad Alam 6-0-24-1)

Click here to read the 1st match details: Pakistan v. Bangladesh

Click here to read the 2nd match details: India v. Pakistan

Click here to read the 3rd match details: India v. Bangladesh

Tri-Series - Kitply Cup - Bangladesh, Pakistan and India - Points Table

Below is the points table of the three nation tournament involving host Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

Team	P	W	L	T	NR	Pts	NRR	For	Aga
Ind	2	2	0	0	0	10	+2.373	553/85.1	412/100.0
Pak	2	1	1	0	0	5	-0.778	423/90.0	493/90.0
Ban	2	0	2	0	0	0	-1.789	385/90.0	456/75.1

2nd Test: England win by 6 Wickets

New Zealand messed up their batting in the second innings, which resulted in England leading the series 1-0. After deciding to bat first, though New Zealand struggled losing 4 wickets for 123 runs. Taylor's briliant 154 helped New Zealand to post a decent total on the board. Mill's added 57 to his part and took New Zealand to 381.

England's first innings was not that great. The first four players 135 runs in total and then no one touched double digit except Broad, who scored a decent 30. Vettori picked 5 wickets. England were all out for 202 giving 179 runs lead to New Zealand.

Read here for 1st Test Results!

With the lead of 179 in hand, any team would have tried to add another 200 to 250 and put pressure on the last innings. But, wonderful bowling by Panesar helped England bundle the New Zealand for 114. Panesar picked 6 wickets giving away 37 runs in his 17 over spell which had 5 maiden overs and giveen as the man of the match. JM How was the top scorer for New Zealand with 29.

Chasing 294, England should thank Strauss this time for leading the fight with a wonderful century. The jouney was easy for them and target never looked dangerous. He was supported well by skipper Vaughan (48), Pietersen (42).

Test: 2
Venue: Oldtrafford, Manchester, England
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: Michael Vaughan and Daniel Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat
Match Result: England won by 6 wickets
Series Result: 1-0 (England leading the series; first test drawn)
Man of the Match: MS Paensar off England
Score:

New Zealand 1st Innings 381 all out in 90.3 overs (JM How 64, AJ Redmond 28, LRPL Taylor 154, JDP Oram 38, KD Mills 57, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 86, JM Anderson 4 for 118)

England 1st Innings 202 all out in 83.3 overs (AJ Strauss 60, MP Vaughan 30, KP Pietersen 26, SCJ Broad 30, KD Mills 2 for 38, IE O'Brien 3 for 49, DL Vettori 5 for 66)

New Zealand 2nd Innings (lead by 179 runs) 114 all out in 41.2 overs (JM How 29, JAH Marshall 28, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 26, MS Panesar 6 for 37)

lost to England 2nd Innings (target 294 runs) (AJ Strauss 106, AN Cook 28, MP Vaughan 48, KP Pietersen 42)

Read here for 1st Test Results!

Strauss Take England to 1-0 Lead!

Struass century in the 2nd innings gave a victory to England in the 2nd test. Chasing a target of 294, Strauss played sensibly and scored a brilliant century off 186 balls with 12 fours. Skipper Vaughan scored an useful 48 and Kevin Pietersen scored 42. The second wicket partnership of 90 runs between Strauss and Vaughan proved vital for England. Third wicket partnership of 85 also added problems to New Zealand as they were not able to break the partnership.

Panesar who captured 6 wickets in the 2nd innings declard man of the match.

England is leading three match series 1-0 with the first test drawn.

Score:
Test: 2
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: MP Vaughan and DL Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decide to bat
Result: England won by 6 wickets
Series Result: England leading by 1-0
Man of the Match: MS Panesar off England

New Zealand 1st Innings 381 all out in 90.3 overs (JM How 64, AJ Redmond 28, LRPL Taylor 154, JDP Oram 38, KD Mills 57, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 86, JM Anderson 4 for 118)

England 1st Innings 202 all out 83.3 overs (AJ Strauss 60, MP Vaughan 30, KP Pietersen 26, SCJ Broad 30, KD Mills 2 for 38, IE O'Brien 3 for 49, DL Vettori 5 for 66)

New Zealand 2nd Innings 114 all out in 41.2 overs (JM How 29, JAH Marshall 28, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 26, MS Panesar 6 for 37)

England 2nd Innings (target 294 runs) 294 for 4 in 88 overs (AJ Strauss 106, AN Cook 28, MP Vaughan 48, KP Pietersen 42)

No need to prove to anybody: Akhtar

After ripping apart the Delhi Dardevils top-order with a tornado-like opening spell in his maiden Indian Premier League outing, Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar said he had put everything into his bowling and had 'no points to make to anybody'.

"I just wanted to win the game. I have no points to make to anybody," he said.

Facing quite a few controversies for the last few months, Shoaib said "I was stressed but put everything behind me".

The Rawalpindi Express thanked his teammates, coach John Buchanan, captain Sourav Ganguly and team owner Shah Rukh Khan.

"Sharing the dressing room with SRK and Sourav was fantastic. They backed me. And I am really happy to perform. They put faith in me. And I am happy to deliver".

On his performance, Akhtar said "For me, my team is the most important thing. Kolkata is my home team. Eden Gardens is my home ground".

Akhtar said "Whenever I play I give hundred per cent". On whether he had expected success on his first IPL match, he said "I gave my best, thankfully the wickets came".

"It has been four months since I played my last game".

"Things were going the right way. It was a team effort, even the fielding was great."

Ganguly said "He came to the country with lots (of things) happening behind him. But he showed lot of character".

Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, who became Akhtar's first victim, also paid tributes to the fast bowler.

"This is the best spell of Twenty20 bowling I have seen. He is a great bowler".

He, however, denied that the Delhi side was done in by Shoaib's pace. "We are used to pace. We are all international players. I, Gautam (Gambhir), and (Manoj) Tiwary".

Sehwag said "Actually we batted too positively against Shoaib".

Meanwhile, asked bout his youthful exuberance in the field during the day, Akhtar replied tongue-in-cheek "I hope the national selectors are watching".

India wins 3rd Test! Equals Series!

India win the 3rd and final test against the touring South African team and equalled the series 1-1. Trailing the series 0-1, the Kanpur wicket, which was termed as spinner frienly, actually proved it.

Though the pitch helped spinners, the pacers also got some help from the wicket, with uneven bounce.

India started the day 3 with a lead of 23 runs and the last pair batting, Sreesanth and Ishanth Sharma survivied the first 10 overs and helped India gain an overall lead of 60 crucial runs. They both added 46 runs for the last wicket, which really put India on the driver seat. Everyone knew that the 2nd innings of India is going to be much tougher because of the heavy crack and footmark of the bowlers.

As expected, the crack in the pitch produced uneven bounce--especially the wicket of Rahul Dravind in the Indian first innings was expected. The ball bounced and hit him in the wrist and flew to gully. It was really an unplayable delivery.

The last Indian wicket fell in the 100th over the innings. Sreesanth scored 29 valueable runs and Ishanth Sharama was not out on 14. Harris took the last wicket.

South Africa trailing by 60 runs, had to score more than 250, so that they can set a target of 190+ runs which would very difficult to chase in the uneven wicket.

The first wicket was taken by Sreesanth when McKenzie tried to pull the short ball and was judged leg before.

Next to go was Amla, the inform batsman, but he was dismissed just before lunch. He was caught at short leg for a duck. Then, Kallis was caught at short leg again by Jaffer for 15. The break-through was given by Shewag this time, when Smith and Kallis were building the innings and provided 5 runs lead.

Smith was bowled behind his leg. That was a beautiful delivery by Shewag pitched outside the leg stump of Smith and hit the leg stump. Smith was not able to do anything except look at what has happened and return to pavilion.

de Villiers, also didn't last long. He was caught by Laxman off Harbhajan for 7 leaving SA struggle at 90 for 5.

The last dangerous batsman was Boucher. He was caught by Dhoni off Ishanth Sharma. The ball kicked and kissed the glove on the way to Dhoni. After this, everyone knew that it is just a matter of time to dismiss the rest of the batsmen.

From 90 for 5, to 101, SA lost 3 quick wickets including Boucher, Morkel for 0, and Harris for 0. Morkel was bowled by a beauty from Ishanth and Harris was caught by Dravid in slips off Harbhajan.

Styen and Nitni were dismissed for 7 and 0. Steyn was bowled when he tried slog Harbhajan and Nitni was caught by Ganguly off Shewag. South Africa were dismissed for 121, the third lowest score.

Dhoni's surpise of having Harbhajan open the bowling, though didn't pay fruits immediately, he surprised and sent SA backfoot.

Harbhajan finished with 4 wickets, Ishanth with 2 and Shewag with 3.

Chasing an easy target of 62, Shewag hit two sixes of Harris. When he tried to make one more, the ball took the edge and flew to point. In the next over, Jaffer was trapped leg before for 10. With 30 more runs to win, Ganguly and Dravid finished the formalities.

Man of the Match was given to Ganguly for his wonderful 87 in the first innings, which helped India to gain a lead. He mentioned that this is one of the best knock which helped India to win.

Man of the Series was given to Harabhan for picking 19 wickets in 5 innings.

Full score:

Match: 3rd Test
Venue: Green Park, Kanpur
Date: April 11 to 15, 2008
Toss: South Africa and decided to bat
Match Result: India won by 8 wickets
Series Result: India and South Africa won 1 each; 1 test drawn
Captain: Dhoni (India) and Smith (South Africa)
Score:
South Africa 1st Innings 265 all out in 87.3 overs (McKenzie 36, Smith 69, Amla 51, de Villiers 25, Boucher 29, Ishanth 3 for 55, Harbhajan 3 for 52, Chawla 2 for 66)
India 1st Innings 325 all out in 99.4 overs (Dravid 29, Laxman 50, Ganguly 87, Yuvaraj 32, Dhoni 32, Sreesanth 29, Steyn 3 for 71, Morkel 3 for 63, Harris 3 for 101)
South Africa 2nd Innings (trail by 60 runs) 121 all out 55.5 overs (Smith 35, Harbhajan 4 for 44, Ishanth 2 for 18, Shewag 3 for 12)
India 2nd Innings (62 to win) 62 for 2 in 13.1 overs (Shewag 22)

Chandrapaul's Six of Last Ball Helps West Indies Win the Thriller!

The last ball six by Chandrapaul of the last ball of the 50th over gave a unbelievable win to West Indies.

Requiring 13 of the last over and with one wicket in hand, Vaas was bowling to Edwards and had a good chance winning the match:

Ball 1--6 balls, 13 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Edwards, low full toss, played to short cover, no run
Ball 2--5 balls, 13 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Edwards, full outside off, played between point and cover, 1 run
Ball 3--4 balls, 12 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Chandrapaul, low full toss, played to long on, 1 run
Ball 4--3 balls, 11 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Edwards, low full toss, played to midwicket, 1 run
Ball 5--2 balls, 10 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Chandrapaul, overpitched on the off, driver past long off, 4 runs
Ball 6--1 ball, 6 runs, 1 wicket: Vaas to Chandrapaul, full toss, hit it over midwicket fielder Jayawardane's head for a SIX!

Match went to West Indies.

Score:
Match: 1 of 3 match series
Toss: West Indies and decided to field
Venue: Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Date: April 10, 2008
Result: West Indies won by 1 wicket
Man of the Match: Bravo (West Indies)
Score:
Sri Lanka 235 for 7 in 50 overs (LPC Silva 67, CK Kapugedera 95, Edwards 2 for 57, Bravo 4 for 32) lost to West Indies 236 for 9 in 50 overs (Gayle 52, Sarwan 35, Chandrapaul 62 not out, Bravo 36, KMDN Kulasekara 3 for 43, BAW Mendis 3 for 39)

Sarwan helps West Indies Win 2nd Test and Equal Series!

Sarwan's 10th century helped West Indies to equal the 2 test match series 1-1. With a target of 253 to win the test, Sri Lanka gained upper hand until Sarwan and Chandrapaul built an 157 run partnershp for the 4th wicket.

Gayle was dismissed for 10, followed by Chattergoon for 11. The much expected Samuels dismissed for 11 leaving West Indies struggle at 73 for 3. Requiring another 180 runs for West Indies and Sri Lanka requiring another 2 or 3 wickets to gain complete control before the tail-enders start to play.

Sarwan and Chandrapaul had to play one more match winning knock to see West Indian cricket lovers smile, especially when the cricket in West Indies is not in its glory as it used to be.

After losing the first test, for Gayle, it was an important game for himself and the team.

Sarwan scored 100 off 151 balls with 15 fours and Chandrapaul crossed his 50 in 99 balls with 2 boundaries. Both of them took the innings away from Sri Lanka and they both added 157 runs in 42.3 overs. Muralitharan's spell this time did not bother the West Indies and they handled him ver well.

Finally Sarwan was caught by Dilshan to give the first wicket for Muralitharan in the 2nd innings. With 23 runs more to win, Smith and Chandrapaul finished the formalities in the next 6 overs without much trouble.

For his wonderful match winning innings, Ramesh Sarwan won the man of the match and for the way he played in the series, he won the man of the series too.

Earlier, trailing 16 runs in the 2nd innings, Sri Lanka were struggling 99 for 6. Taylor's good spell rattled the top order and looked like they will surrender meekly. But, Samaraweera's century helped Sri Lanka to come back in the game and gave a good chance of winning the series. Samaraweera scored his 100 off 173 balls with 15 fours. Vaas who scored 45 accompanied Samaraweera and they both added 138 runs for the 7th wicket. The remaining 3 wickets fell for 31 runs.

West Indian players went through the ground and thanked them for full support. The presentation ceremony started:

Mahela: We gave ourselves a chance but Ronnie and Shiv batted really well. We had few half chances but couldn't capitalise. But West Indies played some very good cricket and deserved to win. It has been a tough series but we have thoroughly enjoyed it. Both teams should take credit for the way we performed. I am looking forward to the ODI series."

Gayle Well done to the guys. It was a shaky start but they came out on the top in the end. The bowlers did a tremendous job, Taylor, Fidel. It was a terrific effort from Sarwan. Credit to Mahela and his team. It was a good series, We enjoyed every minute of it. This win does lots of good for the morale of the team. We have come from behind to equal the series."

Man of the Match and Man of the Series : Sarwan : It was an important innings. It was important to get the partnership with Shiv. I have been positive, picking the right balls to hit. I have continue in this way. It has been hard work back, it has taken ten months to come back. Chris has been doing a wonderful job, every one has been around him and supporting him.

Score:

Match: 2nd Test
Venue: Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Date: April 3-7, 2008
Toss: West Indies and decided to field first
Captain: Gayle (West Indies) and Jayawardane (Sri Lanka)
Umpires: Bowden (New Zealand) and Taufel (Austraia)
Match Result: West Indies won by 6 wickets
Series Result: West Indies and Sri Lanka win 1 match each; Series equal 1-1
Man of the Match: Ramesh Sarwan (West Indies)
Man of the Series: Ramesh Sarwan (West Indies)

Score:

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 278 all out 64.5 overs (Vandort 30, Warnapura 35, Jayawardane 26, Dilshan 62, Silva 76, Powell 2 for 59, Taylor 74, Edwards 4 for 84)
West Indies 1st Innings 294 all out in 76.2 overs (Gayle 45, Chattergoon 46, Sarwan 57, Smith 47, Bravo 26, Vaas 2 for 76, Mirando 2 for 72, Muralitharan 5 for 79)
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (trail by 16 runs) 268 all out in 75.1 overs (Samaraweera 125, Dilshan 25, Vaas 45, Taylor 4 for 52)
West Indies 2nd Innings (253 to win) 254 for 4 in 68.3 overs (Sarwan 102, Chandrapaul 86 not out, Vaas 2 for 52)